Source: The Guardian

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1136434,00.html

On February 1, 2004 The Guardian ran a story from The Observer on the division in France over the headscarf ban: "[Jamila] Farouk, a 30-year-old office assistant, believes the law banning 'ostensive' signs of religious affiliation in schools - which is likely to be passed with cross-party support by the French parliament this week - is a deliberate...

Source: The Dallas Morning News

http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/dn/religion/stories/020204dnmeteid.72af1.html

On February 1, 2004 The Dallas Morning News reported, "For North Texas Muslims, Sunday's annual Eid observance included a little patriotism along with the traditional prayers. Thousands gathered at Fair Park for the prayers and festival known as Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice. The Eid marks the end of the week of hajj, the...

Source: The Philadelphia Enquirer

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/7844272.htm

On February 1, 2004 The Philadelphia Enquirer published an editorial by Laila Al-Marayati on the portrayal of Muslim women in the media. She writes, "The struggle for freedom, democracy, and human rights in the Muslim world has long predated this administration's campaign for a 'tidal wave' of reform. Activists are struggling to enlighten others, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, about alternative...

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3448735.stm

On February 1, 2004 the BBC News reported, "Saudi Arabia's monarchy has called on Muslims worldwide to unite against terrorism in a message to mark an important Islamic holiday, Eid al-Adha. Muslims should reject 'hatred, extremism and terror', it said in a message carried by state TV on Sunday. Some 1.4 million foreign Muslims are in Saudi Arabia this weekend on the annual Islamic pilgrimage, or Hajj....

Source: Montreal Gazette

http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/story.asp?id=0CCC7C71-64D 9-4567-ADB5-9CB22E572423

On February 1, 2004 the Montreal Gazette reported, "The first minaret on Montreal's skyline is going up in an unlikely corner of the city - close to the high-tech businesses in St. Laurent's industrial park. The 105-foot minaret, expected to be completed this spring, is being added to the Islamic Centre...

Source: Montreal Gazette

http://www.canada.com/montreal/story.asp?id=5B7FF5CD-FE6D-4664-B998-7254 CE6B4C32

On February 1, 2004 the Montreal Gazette reported on the growth of the Muslim community in the Quebec province: "There are more than 50 mosques and other prayer rooms in the Montreal area, where many members of Quebec's Muslim community, estimated by its leaders to be 120,000, gather for Friday prayers, and in smaller numbers at other...

Source: The State

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/7840904.htm

On January 31, 2004 The State reported, "People of faith from a wide range of traditions came together at Washington Street United Methodist Church Friday night to affirm their commitment to fight poverty and injustice in the world. The interfaith worship service, which drew a diverse crowd of more than 200, was part of the People’s Agenda for Economic Justice, a two-day effort...

Source: TV2

http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/english/article179797.ece

On January 30, 2004 TV2 reported, "The Norwegian furniture store A-møbler, that fired a Muslim woman because she refused to take off her traditional headscarf, has overturned its decision, and she got her job back. 25-year-old Ambreen Pervez will be back at work at the furniture store February 14, wearing her traditional hijab. The decision maybe considered a timely one due to current movements in...

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/30/opinion/30COQ.html

On January 30, 2004 The New York Times ran an op-ed piece by Guy Coq, author of a book on secularism in France, in which he argued for the value of laïcité, the closed French word to "secularism." Coq writes, "Our uneasiness about head scarves and other religious symbols in schools is a result of our long, often painful, history. If we bow to demands to allow the practice of religion...

Source: Muslims Weekly

http://www.indypressny.org/article.php3?ArticleID=1245

On January 30, 2004 Muslims Weekly reported, "On Jan. 20, religious, community and city officials met at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York (ICCNY) to address the urgent need for Muslim foster homes in New York City, and to come up with possible solutions. Presently, there is no NYC foster care agency that specializes in placing Muslim children into Islamic foster homes. The main...

Source: The Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/religion/2379136

On January 30, 2004 The Houston Chronicle reported, "Because of Super Bowl XXXVIII and related events, Houston's Muslim community won't be having a citywide service for Sunday's Feast of Abraham, one of Islam's most sacred holy days. Muslims were unable to rent a large facility to hold a citywide service on game day, said Aziz A. Siddiqi, president of the Islamic Society of...

Source: The White House

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040128-9.html

On January 28, 2004 The White House reported that George Bush issued his annual greeting to Muslims on the occasion of Eid.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0128/p06s01-woaf.html

On January 28, 2004 The Christian Science Monitor reported, "[A]n end to Sudan's 20-year civil war - between mostly Muslim northerners and Christian and traditional southerners - is in sight. Conciliation is in the air. Officials appear to be moderating their religious policies. Now the test is whether Sudan can morph from an ethno-religious killing ground into a modern melting pot...

Source: Ha-Aretz

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/386473.html

On January 27, 2004 Ha-Aretz reported, "Muslim leaders from the territories met in Cairo a few days ago, with guests Rabbi Menahem Fruman and Rabbi Michael Melchior [Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister]. Unless religion is brought into the picture, says Melchior, no agreement can be forged. Last week, January 12-15, an unusual conference featuring 35 religious leaders from the Gaza Strip and West Bank was held in...

Source: The International Herald Tribune

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/125878895/

On January 26, 2004 The International Herald Tribune reported, "Bosnia's most senior Muslim cleric has warned that European governments must do more to support Islam if they are to curb Islamic extremism. Mustafa Ceric, the grand mufti of the estimated two million...